Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The goodness of Creation
Gen.1:31-2:3
“God saw all that he had made ,and it was very good”
The creation story is something we are all very familiar with. We are taught in Sunday School about the creation of the world, and what was created each day is something we are asked to memorize.  However, how many of us have truly absorbed how amazing God’s works are?  Each day, there are numerous “scientific” advances. We learn more and more about the earth, its creatures, and especially us humans.  Yet, in 34 verses, the Bible describes this whole amazing creation that, more than 2000 years later, we haven’t even figured out even 5% of.
As the Psalmist reminds us in Psalms 104:24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  So, what can we gain from the ending of the creation story? Two things:
We are made very good-. Body image and self-esteem are the two greatest issues facing men and women of all ages.  We spend so much money on cosmetics, surgery, clothing, and other things to try to fit society’s perfect body image.  We however fail to reason that God has created us in His image according to His perfect will and plan.  If we recognize God’s unfailing love and perfect plan, then we must realize that He has made each one of us fearfully and wonderfully in His image.  Who are we to change that to fit into society’s image when we are in this world but not of it?  The beauty of a diamond is not in the stone but the flaws that reflect the light.  We too are God’s diamonds - our flaws used to reflect the light of His love, grace and mercy.
On the 7th day, God rested.-  The Word tells us that this day is holy and set apart. Do we really set apart Sundays as a holy day.  Making the day a holy day is more than just going to church.  Do we truly set Sunday apart for rest and worship? Do we truly focus on Him, or are we caught up in teaching, leading, politics, football, and television? Is the day of rest and worship really a day of rest and focus on God and His glory or is He is towards the bottom of our priorities?  The Lord, after creating so many things, found time to be still… can we? Can we be still and hear Him? Can we truly allow Sundays to be about Him and Him alone? Even if we spent every minute of every day, we could never thank the Lord for all He has done for us.  All of His blessings, grace, mercy, and love. In return, can we not give Him one day of the week solely for Him?
Prayer: Lord, how amazing are your works, so numerous, so wonderful, so intricate.  We praise You Father. Help us to recognize how blessed we are that You have made each of us in Your image perfectly according to Your will. Help us to accept that so that we are transformed and not conformed.  Father, help us to keep the Sabbath holy.  Help us each Sunday to give You all the glory, honor, and worship you so richly deserve.....
Thought for the Day: The creation story is a reminder each day of how blessed we are to have been created and to live in the World that He has created.
                           John C Thomas, St. Thomas MTC, NY


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